The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations to expand small game hunting opportunities on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs). The effect of the proposed rule amendment will be to enable the agency to ...

 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Freshwater Fish and Wildlife

RULE NO.: RULE TITLE:

68A-17.005: Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The purpose of the proposed rule amendment is to revise specific area regulations to expand small game hunting opportunities on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs). The effect of the proposed rule amendment will be to enable the agency to better manage fish and wildlife resources and public use on WEAs.

SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendment would revise specific area regulations to expand small game hunting opportunities on Wildlife and Environmental Areas (WEAs) as follows:

 

Northwest Region

 

Apalachicola River WEA – allow northern bobwhite to be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season. A daily no-cost permit and proof that northern bobwhite were purchased from a licensed game farm would be required for each individual or group participating. Allow release of northern bobwhite only in the designated area east of the Apalachicola River.

L. Kirk Edwards WEA – expand small game season by 87 days on that portion of the area east of Chaires Cross Road; allow the take of rabbit, quail, furbearers, armadillo, and wild hog during the small game season on that portion of the area west of Chaires Cross Road; and, allow northern bobwhite to be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season. A daily no-cost permit and proof that northern bobwhite were purchased from a licensed game farm would be required for each individual or group participating.

 

North Central Region

 

Fort White WEA – expand small game season by 79 days.

Lafayette Forest WEA – expand small game season by 84 days.

Watermelon Pond WEA – allow northern bobwhite to be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season. A daily no-cost permit and proof that northern bobwhite were purchased from a licensed game farm would be required for each individual or group participating. Persons releasing northern bobwhite must enter and exit the area at the designated quail release entrance (parking area at the NE corner of the WEA, accessible by SW 250 Street).

 

Additionally, the proposed rule amendment would provide non-substantive technical changes, such as grammatical corrections, language standardization, or clarification of an existing rule.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rule is not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: The nature of the rule and the preliminary analysis conducted to determine whether a SERC was required

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution

LAW IMPLEMENTED: Article IV, Section 9, Florida Constitution n; Sections 379.2223, 375.313, FS.

A HEARING WILL BE HELD AT THE DATE, TIME AND PLACE SHOWN BELOW:

DATES AND TIMES: During the Commission’s regular meeting July 10-11, 2017, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., each day

PLACE: Orange County Convention Center, West Building - Room WF3, 9800 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: the ADA Coordinator, at [phone]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Diane R. Eggeman, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600.

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

68A-17.005 Specific Regulations for Wildlife and Environmental Areas.

(1) No Change.

(2) North Central Region.

(a) No change.

(b) Fort White Mitigation Park – Gilchrist County.

1. Open season:

a. No change.

b. Small game – November 16 18 through March 4 December 1 and February 3-18.

c. through g. No change.

2. through 4. No change.

(c) through (e) No change.

(f) Lafayette Forest Wildlife and Environmental Area.

1. Open seasons:

a. through d. No change.

e. Small game – November 13 through January 19 and February 1 through March 4 February 3-18.

f. through j. No change.

2. through 3. No change.

(g) Watermelon Pond Wildlife and Environmental Area.

1. through 2. No change.

3. General regulations:

a. through e. No change.

f. Northern bobwhite may be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season provided each individual or group participating possesses a daily permit and proof (including the name and address of the vendor and date of purchase) that the northern bobwhite were purchased from a licensed game farm within the past 90 days. Participants must enter and exit the area only at a designated quail release entrance.

(3) Northwest Region.

(a) No change.

(b) Apalachicola River – Gulf, Franklin, and Liberty counties.

1. through 3. No change.

4. General regulations:

a. through h. No change.

i. Northern bobwhite may be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season provided each individual or group participating possesses a daily permit and proof (including the name and address of the vendor and date of purchase) that the northern bobwhite were purchased from a licensed game farm within the past 90 days. The release of northern bobwhite is allowed only in that portion of the area east of the Apalachicola River, east of the East River, north of Sam’s Creek Cutoff, and west of East Bay.

(c) L. Kirk Edwards – Leon County.

1. Open seasons for that portion of the area west of Chaires Cross Road:

a. Small game Gray squirrel – Opening the second Saturday in November through the close of the gray squirrel season established in Rule 68A-13.004, F.A.C.

b. through e. No change.

2. Open seasons for that portion of the area east of Chaires Cross Road:

a. through c. No change.

d. Small game – November 11-22, 27-29, December 4-13, and December 18 through March 4 December 29-31, January 12-14, 26-28, February 9-11 and 23-25.

e. through h. No change.

3. No change.

4. General regulations:

a. through e. No change.

f. Northern bobwhite may be released and taken by shotgun during the small game season provided each individual or group participating possesses a daily permit and proof (including the name and address of the vendor and date of purchase) that the northern bobwhite were purchased from a licensed game farm within the past 90 days.

(4) through (5) No change.

 

PROPOSED EFFECTIVE DATE:  September 1, 2017.

 

Rulemaking Authority Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const. Law Implemented Art. IV, Sec. 9, Fla. Const., 379.2223, 375.313 FS. History–New 7-1-83, Amended 11-30-83, 7-1-84, 8-21-85, Formerly 39-17.05, Amended 6-1-86, 8-13-87, 8-18-88, 8-17-89, 4-11-90, 7-1-91, 10-31-91, 4-14-92, 4-20-93, 7-1-94, 9-15-94, 3-30-95, 8-15-95, 7-1-96, 4-3-97, 10-28-97, 7-1-98, 8-11-98, 7-1-99, Formerly 39-17.005, Amended 7-1-00, 5-1-01, 6-2-02, 5-25-03, 7-1-04, 7-1-05, 7-1-06, 7-1-07, 7-1-08, 1-6-09, 7-1-09, 10-29-09, 7-1-10, 7-1-11, 11-14-11, 7-1-12, 7-26-12, 7-1-13, 7-1-14, 7-2-14, 7-1-15, 7-29-15, 7-1-16, 7-1-17, 9-1-17.

BE ADVISED THAT THESE PROPOSED RULES MAY BE FILED FOR ADOPTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE FOLLOWING THE COMMISSION MEETING AT WHICH THEY ARE CONSIDERED IF THE RULES ARE NOT CHANGED.  IF CHANGED, THE RULES MAY BE FILED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER PUBLICATION OF A NOTICE OF CHANGE IN THE F.A.R.

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Diane R. Eggeman, Director, Division of Hunting and Game Management, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1600.

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: April 19, 2017

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: December 8, 2016